Tuesday, 25 June 2013

Reading is a culture that has since
receded into oblivion, yet it has the potential to open new dimensions and
evoke vivid images during the transfer of text from the author to the reader.
The culture of reading enables the reader to undergo the cognitive process of
understanding of written linguistic messages. An author can trap a frame, a
thought, a conversation, an ideology or a paradigm in a paragraph. Upon reading
these sentences and clever grouping of words one can transform their knowledge
and unlock new possibilities. Recently
during this practice of reading, I came upon a discovery of Stephen Covey’s 7th
habit of being a highly effective person. This self development expert coined
the term ‘Sharpening the Saw’ as a means of ‘preserving and enhancing the
greatest asset we have’: Ourselves. Many a time, we have experienced a block,
or a stage where fatigue stifles our progress and we are so convinced that we cannot
move forward from that point.

Turning Point: Remember
that time when you stopped and asked yourself: ‘what’s the point?’

Well the solution is simple:

Self renewal.

Covey rightfully postulates that having a
balanced program for self renewal in the four areas of your life that is; your
physical, social/emotional mental and spiritual well being are the key towards
re-invigorating yourself and ultimately ‘Sharpening the Saw’. Let’s take a look
at these areas and try to come up with examples of activities that can execute
Covey 7th habit.

Physical Renewal

In the physical being, an individual can
undergo self renewal by eating healthier. Paying attention to a balanced diet,
taking four meals a day and drinking at least six glasses of water as well as
avoiding saturated fats and junk food, food with artificial coloring are steps
towards healthier eating habits that aid self renewal. It is also important to
consume food in its right proportions, too much of one thing can be unhealthy. It
is also important to take the time out to exercise. According to Wikipedia,
physical exercise maintains physical fitness and overall health and can boost
the immune system. Exercise can also be done recreatively for personal
enjoyment and fulfillment. At the end of the day, after the hustle
and bustle of life it is very beneficial to give the body that works and the
mind that thinks time to rest.

The human body maintains a stable
equilibrium through homeostasis comprising of physiological processes that
regulate a bodies organ functions. Continuous work for prolonged periods such
as staring at a screen all day for instance working with spreadsheets and the
Internet can strain the body and result in Carpel
Tunnel Syndrome (CRT), Repetetive
Strain Injury (RSI) as well as migraines and dehydration. Regular breaks
permit the body to renew and re-focus its energies and enables increased
productivity in both studying and in the work environment. Simple exercise and
stretching can make a difference between a tiresome day to an extremely
fatigued day. Get adequate amounts of sleep, resting at odd hours deposits
fatigue into the following day and at the end of the week one’s body can crash
from this collective fatigue. Do remember, sleep is not for children alone, you
too need to recharge your batteries.

Talking matters…

Covey also claims in his 7th
habit that by ‘making social and meaningful connections with others, one is
able to renew themselves socially and emotionally. It goes without saying that
humans thrive on attention and on social relations. Our social lives have a
bearing on how we operate and can be the same factor that boosts our
productivity or outright demotivate us. Creating, maintaining and mending our
social relations with friends, relatives and colleagues can rekindle our passion
for life and light up a flame that can help us look forward performing tasks
and getting things done. So go ahead, strike a conversation with that long lost
cousin, call an old friend, visit a colleague out in hospital surprise your
parent with a gift. Not only will you make them smile, you will realize a
happiness which has the potential to renew you.

Learning for self renewal

You can renew your mental being by
learning new things, reading literature, writing down your experiences and
feelings. Taking time out to share what you know by conducting demonstrations,
teachings and lectures can give you a sense of self fulfillment and empower
those around you. You can even mould protégés through mentorship. Putting aside
time to teach is like giving out pearls of wisdom and these are gems which can
last a lifetime.

Connecting with your spirituality

Man has a connection with his
spirituality and this section could start a whole new article. However, Covey
claims in his 7th habit of ‘sharpening the saw’ that man can renew
his spiritual being by ‘spending time in nature, expanding spiritual self
through meditation and music’.

At the end of the day, all I’m trying to say
is…

You are the engineer of your own
happiness. It is a script that only you are responsible to write down. Your
happiness is not someone else’ responsibility, but your very own. So next time
you feel all worn out and all your emotions are spent, why don’t you try
‘sharpening the saw’? Renewing yourself could prove to be revitalizing and make
you highly effective as a person.